Malaria prevention and control are major
foreign assistance objectives of the U.S. Government (USG). In May 2009,
President Barack Obama announced the Global Health Initiative (GHI), a
six-year, comprehensive effort to reduce the burden of disease and promote
healthy communities and families around the world.

Summary: 18 November 2010, Brussels - Today,
the European Commission has allocated €1,550,000 for humanitarian assistance
to flood victims in Benin. Around 100,000 people have been left homeless
and thousands are in dire need of medical treatment, clean water and food
assistance there, due to the unprecedented torrential rains over the last
few months.

Kristalina Georgieva, European Commissioner
for International Cooperation, Humanitarian Aid and Crisis Response, said:
"Many people in Benin have lost their homes and seen their livelihoods
swept away by these floods.

The Directorate General for Humanitarian
Aid and Civil Protection (DG ECHO) is responsible for formulating EU humanitarian
aid policy and for funding humanitarian aid - including food aid - to
victims of conflicts or disasters, both natural and man-made, in non EU
countries.

After days of heavy rainfall in western
parts of Central Africa, large swathes of Benin, including the capital,
Cotonou, are under water. Up to 700,000 people, many of them children,
have been affected by the flooding. Approximately 200,000 people have been
left homeless.

The Federal Foreign Office is providing
up to EUR 400,000 for immediate emergency assistance measures.

On October 29, the Government of Japan
has decided to extend emergency relief goods (tents, blankets, etc.) equivalent
to 20 million yen (about 213,000 USD) to the Republic of Benin in response
to the request from the Government of the Republic of Benin, in view of
humanitarian aspects as well as the friendship and cooperation between
Japan and the Republic of Benin.

The current rainy season across West Africa
has affected hundreds of thousands of men, women and children in almost
every country in the region. The worst flood-affected country is Benin
where 43 people have been killed and over 150,000 people's homes have been
damaged or lost due to the floods. Farm land and schools have also been
badly damaged by the floods.

- The start of green harvesting in the
region is significantly improving food security conditions in West Africa.
However, the rains will have to continue until the end of September in
East Sahel, mid-October in West Sahel, the end of October in the Sudanian
zone, and the end of November in the bimodal zone of the Gulf of Guinea
in order to expect average to above-average production in all countries
of the region.

- Current high to extreme food insecurity
in households of the agropastoral area in the east basin (Niger, Nigeria,
and Chad) is being progressively reduced by …